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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 224

Eight: Temporary Chief Petty Officer C. B. Balding, Royal Navy, who returned to service during the Second World War - that would see him present aboard the destroyed Electra who came to the rescue of survivors from the outrage of the sinking of the S.S. Athenia in September 1939, before showing further service with the Coastal Forces, which earned Balding a C-in-C's Commendation

1914-15 Star (J.36634, C. B. Balding, Ord. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.36634 C. B. Balding A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.36634. C. B. Balding. L.S. H.M.S. Kent.), the first four mounted as worn, the first three somewhat worn, with edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine, the remainder better (8)

Commander-in-Chief's Commendation (Admiral Commanding Dover) 28 June 1945 - no doubt in connection with his work at Wasp.

Charles Benjamin Balding was born on 16 November 1897, at Clapton, London, and commenced his naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Vivid I, on 16 March 1915. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Caernarvon, on 16 November 1915, and Able Seaman, 3 August 1916. He returned to H.M.S. Pembroke I, prior to a posting to the ‘C’ class light cruiser, H.M.S. Calliope, in September 1917, and remained in her for the remainder of the Great War. He was advanced to Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Columbine (Walpole), in January 1926, and Petty Officer, H.M.S. Osprey (Torrid), in July 1933. He was shore pensioned in November 1937, having earned his L.S. & G.C. in December 1930.

Athenia Incident

Balding was recalled for service in July 1939, serving in H.M.S. Electra from 2 August 1939-20 March 1940. She was under Commander S. A. “Sammy” Buss, R.N.

Few had a quicker introduction to the future intent of Hitler’s U-boat packs, for Electra being early on the scene of the S.S. Athenia’s demise west of Donegal on the first day of hostilities - of her 1100 passengers, at least 300 of them U.S. citizens, 93 were lost - 69 of these women and 16 of them children. Sunk by U-30, such was the controversy that the sinking caused, it was not until 1946 that German authorities accepted responsibility for her loss.

Coastal Forces

Balding thence went to H.M.S. Hornet, the Coastal Forces base at Gosport on 7 June 1940. He was added to the Motor Boat Staff at Lynx (Dover) on 24 June and thence went to H.M.S. Wasp, the main Coastal Forces base at Dover. Wasp was the requisitioned Lord Warden Hotel and its name proved an excellent deception especially when German propagandist, William Joyce - Lord Haw Haw -, stated on the radio that Wasp had been torpedoed in the Channel.

He was promoted Temporary Chief Petty Officer in March 1945, and was released from service in September 1945, with the aforementioned Commendation for his work at Dover. He was issued with his Second War Campaign Medals on 28 April 1950, evidencing his further service afloat during that War. Balding died in June 1967 at Waltham Forest, London; sold together with copied research and service record.

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Sold for
£280

Starting price
£140